Publications / Reports

Bent on solving real-world problems, the Center for the Development and Application of Internet-of-Things Technologies (CDAIT, pronounced si-ˈdāt) fosters interdisciplinary research and education in Internet of Things (IoT)-related domains and bridges sponsors with Georgia Tech researchers and faculty as well as with industry members with similar interests. Central to its value proposition is the belief that only a holistic approach, i.e., mindful of the complexity of the entire IoT value chain and the intricate relationships between the various links, can generate superior results. CDAIT’s broad overarching goal is to expand and promote IoT’s huge potential and transformational capabilities.

January 2020 - Salimah LaForce, Wireless RERC and Danny Housley, Center for Inclusive Designs and Innovation, provided input to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 2020 Revision of Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans. The last time the Guide was updated was in 2010, predating the commercial availability of Wireless Emergency Alerts. As such, recommendations were made to update the communications sections to make reference to mobile emergency alerting and to include guidance on elements of accessible emergency messaging. We also recommend that they expand their hazard and risk assessment section to highlight that some people in the jurisdiction may be particularly at risk during and in the wake of disaster. These include people who rely on electrical power to operate their life-sustaining durable medical equipment at home. Also, people who rely on assistive technologies to communicate and/or navigate their environments. Also, beyond the identification of populations who have increased risk of harm during emergency events, we recommended advising jurisdictions to assess their capabilities and resources to respond to those that have been identified as needing "additional assistance." For example, through registries of people with disabilities never account for all people with disabilities that live in the jurisdiction, those that have registered have the expectation that "help is on the way." Help is not always on the way due to a variety of reasons not always under the emergency response personnel's control. What can be controlled, however, is incorporating a response plan specifically for the people on the registries and others identified as needing "additional assistance...in advance of, during, and following an emergency." Other issues addressed include:

References to people with Limited English Proficiency mentioning people whose first language is American Sign Language (ASL), because they are not always thought of as needing language accommodation.

Use of the term special in relation to needs and how it can create or reinforce a cognitive bias.

Specifically mentioning assistive technology (AT), and the importance of not separating a person from their AT.

Wireless RERC project director (PD), Salimah LaForce, and DeeDee Bennett, former Wireless RERC PD and currently, associate professor at the University at Albany, The State University of New York co-authored Text-to-Action: Understanding the Interaction Between Accessibility of Wireless Emergency Alerts and Behavioral Response. This book chapter was published in Risk Communication and Community Resilience and focuses on the accessibility of emergency alerts on mobile devices for vulnerable populations emphasizing concerns of people with disabilities. The chapter describes accessibility considerations across the warning process; receiving factors that impact understanding, and responding (i.e., the decision to take protective action) to alerts and warnings sent via mobile wireless devices. It provides background information on wireless alerting mechanisms and summarizes the results from several studies related to WEA. Studies summarized in this chapter were supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDLRR); the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA-Integrated Public Alert and Warning Project Management Office; and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate. It is available in both hard copy format and on Kindle.

One of the challenges instructors face is training students on how to identify problems and opportunities. The process of problem-solving, coming up with a solution to a problem which has already been defined, is already familiar since it is an exercise that most students have done for most of their academic lives. Finding and solving problems involve four general stages: Gap Identification/ Problem Recognition, Problem Diagnosis/Formulation, Alternatives Generation, and Alternatives Selection. Problem Recognition is realizing that an issue exists. Problem Diagnosis involves gathering information relevant to the issue in order to more specifically define it. Alternatives Generation involves using the gathered data to come up with possible ways to get from the current state to the desired state. Alternatives Selection involves picking the solution that is the best resolution for the issue based on everything known about the problem.

In a world with complex and inter-related problems, Problem Recognition, which also might be called identifying design opportunities, is an increasingly important skill for designers and engineers. This is especially true for those aspiring to be entrepreneurs or leaders in a particular discipline. Companies devote significant resources to the development of new products with development and testing using up to 54 % of the total. It is important to both identify new product and feature ideas that are viable. With problems that cross disciplinary boundaries, there is a need to effectively mix engineering approaches to generate technical solutions along with creative and user-focused approaches more commonly associated with industrial design.

An early introduction and a chance to gain practical experience with both Universal Design and Assistive Design are important. With an early introduction to these concepts, students will have the opportunity to apply their experience to both future projects during the course of their training and into their professional careers (whether product design or other fields).

The aim of this paper is to describe approaches for introducing undergraduate students in both design and engineering to the concepts of Universal Design (UD) and to the design of Assistive Technology (AT) devices. A design project undertaken in an introductory class in human factors and ergonomics is presented. A total of 89 students completed a survey at the end of the project self-reporting what they learned. The results indicated that students learned a lot, particularly from interactions with users, and expect to use what they learned in future professional contexts.

We created SUNspots to share easily digestible data points from the Wireless RERC's cornerstone survey, the Survey of User Needs (SUN). The SUN tracks the use and usability of wireless technology by people with disabilities. Data collection for this version of the SUN started in 2017. And data collection ended in 2018. We are currently in the process of analyzing the data and will be sharing it periodically with you through these SUNspots, and via a larger report in the future.

The data collected from the SUN is used by RERC staff to inform R&D directions for our projects and outreach activities, to support our regulatory filings, and by industry to improve the accessibility of their products and services. We also made a commitment to members of our Consumer Advisory Network to share what we've learned from the SUN data. Please find links to the two new SUNspots below to see how wireless technology is being used by people with disabilities.

SUNspot 02: Use of Wireless Technology Features and Wireless Device Activities by Individuals with Disabilities (2017-2018) presents key findings regarding the use of wireless technology features by SUN respondents, including real-time-text, intelligent assistants, and visual and audio display options. We also discuss the use of wireless devices by individuals with disabilities for a variety of activities. Whereas SUNspot 1 focused on the devices themselves, this report focuses primarily on the capabilities built into those devices and their relationship to users' reported functional limitations and difficulties.

This past year’s hot topics included the increased development of wireless technologies and next-generation connected devices, continued expansion in disability-focused research, emergency communications access, and improved access to assistive devices and public spaces. The top five words by frequency in the 2017 and 2018 TDPH’s were similar, varying only slightly. In descending order, the top five most cited words for 2018 were: emergency, services, research, communications, and inclusive. The topic that experienced the greatest shift from 2017 to 2018 was research, shifting from 19th in 2017 to 2nd in 2018. 2018 had a greater frequency over 2017 on the topics of legislation, research, and services/technologies, and innovation. Also, noteworthy, the word information was our 3rd most cited word in 2017 and did not even reach the top 50 2018 list, indicating a shift in focus from digital content to digital devices/services.

This year’s influx of research regarding best policy and practices demonstrated progression towards an inclusive global environment, and legislative and regulatory activities were responsive to many of the advances in technology. This year was also full of exciting celebrations as we acknowledged the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 50th anniversary of the universal symbol of disability, the 40th anniversary of NIDILRR, and International Persons with Disability Day. These monumental occasions were peppered with countless celebratory, awareness, and capacity building activities.

Throughout 2018, the FCC sought stakeholder input on regulatory, technical and consumer issues related to accessibility in broadcasting, the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) Biennial report, and emergency communications. Regarding the latter, the FCC released a report, Refresh the Record on Facilitating Multimedia Content in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), that supported the inclusion of multimedia content in WEA messages. Later in the year, the FCC approved FEMA’s request for a waiver allowing them to conduct the first nationwide test of WEA in September of 2018. The Wireless RERC asked personnel and partners to observe the test and to describe their experiences. Commonly reported issues with the WEA test included: accessibility, inconsistencies based on carrier and or device, and the message format.

The FCC also ruled on “next generation” broadcast television standards. In the Authorizing Permissive Use to the “Next Generation”Broadcast Television Standard Report and Order, the next-generation transmission standards became effective in March 2018. In the spring of this past year, the FCC released a proceeding, In the Matter of Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service (CTS); Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, that allowed for the use of automated speech-to-text technologies for the provision of captions on IP-CTS. The FCC also adopted a Report and Order, In the Matter of Revisions to Reporting Requirements Governing Hearing Aid-Compatible Mobile Handsets and required that the service providers should offer hearing-aid compatible devices, a rating of these devices, and an explanation of the rating system. The FCC published many other rulings and revised regulations including improving wireless resiliency in the wake of a disaster.

In the legislative realm, there was constant discussion and votes on several bills. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) House of Delegates brought forth House Resolution 116C that expanded Title II and Title III of the ADA to include in its interpretation of public accommodations, digital “places,” devices and applications. It was unanimously approved. Earlier in the year, Senator Casey [D-PA] introduced the Office of Disability Policy Act of 2018 [S. 3261] to establish the Office of Disability Policy in the legislative branch. The bill was assigned to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for further review. The House also passed The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018, [H.R. 302], now Public Law 115-254, which improves air travel for consumers with a disability by correcting access barriers. Congress also debated and addressed autonomous vehicles legislation and bias in artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the states’ assistive technology programs expanded last year with some states incorporating smart technologies such as smart home devices and robotic telepresence among their offerings.

This past year was also imbued with technological advances from different startups, major technological companies, and scientists. Some of these developments include Mapp4All, Right Hear, Hopkins PD App, AlterEgo, Social Robots, TalkBack, “Smart” prosthetics, and advanced assistive garments such as gloves, glasses, and pants. These developments, some on the market and others still in the creation phase, show great promise for improving access and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

2018 at the Wireless RERC was eventful! We hosted a workshop, attended and presented at conferences, and engaged with industry stakeholders, academics, practitioners, and service organizations to discuss prevalent issues in the arena of technology for persons with disabilities. Wireless RERC researchers submitted comments to the FCC discussing the accessibility of mobile phones and other emerging technologies and followed with a Mobile Phone Accessibility Report to support the initial response. We also produced reports ranging from workforce participation of people with disabilities to the usability of next-generation wireless devices. Equally as active in technology and disability-related projects and product development were Georgia Tech faculty who were also cited frequently in hearings. The Wireless RERC is proud of the progressive research conducted at the Center for Advanced Communications Policy and will continue to advance accessibility towards the social inclusion of people with disabilities.

A new research brief by CACP researchers Nathan W. Moon, Paul M.A. Baker, and Kenneth Goughnour, summarizes findings from focus groups which explored accessibility, social appropriateness, and cultural acceptability issues of wireless technology related use among individuals with disabilities. The research was conducted for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC). A total of 41 individuals with disabilities who use smartphones, wearables, and "smart home" devices participated in the study.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a statutory obligation to evaluate the impact of their regulations that implement the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). Every two-years the FCC submits a report to Congress on the state of industry compliance with the CVAA. In anticipation of the FCC’s call for stakeholder input to inform their 2018 CVAA Biennial Report, the Wireless RERC conducted a 2017 Mobile Phone Accessibility Review (Accessibility Review/Review). Preliminary results of the review were submitted to the FCC[i] in response to the request for “input on the state of accessibility of “mobile” or wireless services, including basic phones and feature phones (collectively referred to herein as non-smartphones), as well as smartphones.”[ii] This report contains the full summary and comparative analyses.

October 2018 - University of Cincinnati’s, Abdou Fall, reimagines the use of drones for daily citizen as an effective way to increase the accessibility of public spaces. Fall’s thesis paper addresses use cases and policy considerations for drones to operate as an assistive technology for people with mobility disabilities. The paper explores the capabilities of drones, such as replacements for lifts, and indoor mapping. Application of drone technology, as suggested in the paper, could assist in residential buildings as well as in public spaces. In the latter instance, it could save people with a physical disability time by informing them in advance if the building is accessible and to what extent. [Source: Abdou Fall, University of Cincinnati; Stefan Steveski, dronebelow]

In June, the Wireless RERC completed the Summary Report for Using Technology R&D to Effect Policy ChangeLeadership Workshop. One of the key goals of the workshop was to provide pragmatic advice on how to engage in the policymaking process. One aspect of engagement includes providing written comments in response to a call for public input. As such, we would like to offer you the opportunity to provide your input on the Small Group Discussions section (pp. 10-13).

In the afternoon, the attendees had small group discussions on the following topics:

Data sources at your disposal – organizational data that could provide support for policy recommendations.

Disability access policy priorities - policy domains that should be on the regulatory agenda to improve parity of access by people with disabilities.

Engaging stakeholders- strategies for encouraging people with disabilities and non-governmental organizations to participate in federal rulemakings.

Each group was asked to extract from their discussion three takeaways. From your perspectives as advocates, practitioners, academics, government, or industry stakeholders, we invite you to review the takeaways and submit concurring or opposing arguments. Do you agree with the takeaways that each group produced? Is there a significant issue regarding use of data, disability access policy priorities, or stakeholder engagement that went unaddressed?

We hope that you reply. If you so choose, please send your comments to Salimah LaForce (salimah@cacp.gatech.edu) by August 22, 2018.

Disclaimer

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RE5025-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.